1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910437974903321

Autore

Eckert Michael <1949->

Titolo

Arnold Sommerfeld [[electronic resource] ] : Science, Life and Turbulent Times 1868-1951 / / by Michael Eckert

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, NY : , : Springer New York : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2013

ISBN

1-4614-7461-2

Edizione

[1st ed. 2013.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (477 p.)

Disciplina

530.092

Soggetti

Quantum physics

Physics

Mathematical physics

Fluids

Gravitation

Quantum Physics

History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics

Mathematical Physics

Fluid- and Aerodynamics

Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory

Biography

History

Germany

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Prologue -- Königsberg Roots -- Setting the Course -- Klein's Assistant -- Clausthal -- Aachen -- Munich -- Physics in War and Peace -- The Quantum Pope -- Wave Mechanics -- Cultural Ambassador -- Descent -- The Bitter Years -- Carrying On -- Legacy -- Epilogue -- Backmatter.

Sommario/riassunto

Arnold Sommerfeld (1868-1951) belongs with Max Planck (1858-1947), Albert Einstein (1879-1955) and Niels Bohr (1885-1962) among the founders of modern theoretical physics, a science that developed into a budding discipline during his lifetime. Sommerfeld witnessed many of the most dramatic scientific, cultural and political events of



this era. His correspondence with his family offers a vivid testament to the challenges and joys of a life in science. This biography attempts to reconstruct Sommerfeld’s life and work not only from the perspective of his achievements in theoretical physics but also with the goal of portraying the career of a scientist within the social and political environment in which it evolved. It is based to a large extent on Sommerfeld’s voluminous correspondence, which sheds light both on his private and scientific life. Furthermore, it provides an authentic view on the circumstances that shaped Sommerfeld’s career in different places – Königsberg, Göttingen, Clausthal, Aachen, Munich – and in different institutional and disciplinary settings – mineralogy, mathematics, engineering, physics. Although this biography is not a study of Sommerfeld’s school, it also renders transparent what made this group of physicists so unique and gave its founder the aura of a charismatic teacher. This becomes particularly evident in the reverence with which he was received by his hosts during his travels all over the world – travels that Sommerfeld perceived as cultural missions. International politics, personal zeal and scientific interests became closely entangled at such occasions. Such an entanglement is by no means uncommon in the history of science – but it is rarely observed so persistently as in Sommerfeld’s case.